Electron discharge tube actuating means



1931. R. m. E'IBUNQAN, JR

ELECTRON DISCHARGE- TU E ACTUATING MEANS Filed 2s, 1.950

WWENTQR Robert D. V Dunmny? M 1 ORN EY Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT? OFFICE ROBERT D. DUNCAN, JR., OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR. TO WIRED RADIO,

' INCL, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ELECTRONDISCHARGE TUBE ACTUATING MEANS Application filed February 28, 1930.Serial No. 432,143.

My invention pertains in general to means for actuating switches, andspecifically relates to means for actuating a switch combined with anelectron discharge tube adapter in a radio receiving set.

My invention is especially adapted for use in space radio receivers inwhich the detector tube is positioned adjacent the variable tuningcondenser, or where the detector tube is situated near the graduateddial associated with a gang of tuning condensers. When it is desired touse such a space radio receiver in conjunction with a wired radio tuneras an auxiliary source of radio frequency signal, a combined adapter andadapter switch are interposed between the said detector tube and thesupporting socket therefor so as to se lectively tie in the leads fromthe said wired radio tuner to the detector tube circuit when desired. Tooperate the space radio receiver in conjunction with the auxiliary wiredradio tuner, it is necessary to actuate the switch on the adapter.'However, the adapter is necessarily positioned in association with thedetector tube and is, therefore, not conveniently accessible withrespect to operation of the switch mounted thereon.

One of the objects of my invention consists in providing means foractuating an adapter switch t-l'irough the agency of the graduatedtuning dial of a radio receiver.

Another object comprises producing an arm which can be secured to atuning dial for engagement with the handle of a switch mounted on anelectron discharge tube adapter.

Another object consists in providing a spring and stop pin associatedwith a switch combined with an electron discharge tube adapter to holdsaid switch in a predetermined position.

I accomplish the above desirable features in a novel adapter switchactuating means for use in combination with a tuning dial and anelectron discharge tube adapter switch.

In the drawings accompanying and form- 7 ing a part of the specificationand in which like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout:

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical sectional view of a space radio receivershowing a detector tube position adjacent a tuning dial of the receiver.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation and partial sectional view corresponding tothe representation in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, an electron discharge tube adapter 1 is interposed betweenthe detector tube 2 and the supporting socket 3 therefor of a spaceradio broadcast receiver. The supporting socket 3 comprises part of amounting panel 4. through which the shaft 7 extends. The shaft 7 ismechanically coupled to a variable tuning condenser, or is mechanicallycoupled to a gang of variable condensers or othertuning elements. A dial6 is rigidly secured on the shaft 7 by means of a hub 15 and a set screw16.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that graduated radial lines andcorresponding numbers are provided on the dial 6 for the purpose ofindicating the relative position of the dial with respect to the tuningelements controlled by the shaft 7 These graduated lines and numbers arevisible from without 75 the receiver through the window 17 and theirposition is gauged by reference to an index pointer 18. A knob 19 isalso securely mounted on the shaft 7 so that the said shaft can bemanually turned to any desiredposition.

In Fig. 1, the switch 5 is mounted on one side of the adapter 1 by meansof a pivot member 13. Movement of the handle 11 of the switch 5 througha small arc will cause the internal contact terminals of the said switch5 to be actuated from one to another of two different relativepositions.

In my invention, I provide a stop pin 8 on the adapter 1. A spiralspring 14 is secured to the pivot member 13 of the-switch 5, and to ascrew 9 in the adapter 1. This spiral spring 14: exerts a torque on thepivot member 13 such as to cause the handle 11 of the switch 5 to benormally held in a position against the stop pin 8. In this position theinternal contacts of the switch 5 are arranged to permit the detectortube 2 to function in the space radio receiver in the usual mannerindependent of the wired radio tuner.

In my invention, I provide a forked arm '10 1.0

which is secured at a point on the periphery of the dial 6 by means of aset screw 12. As the dial 6 is rotated, the arm 10 will come intoengagement with the handle 11 of the switch 5, depressing the same, asshown in Fig. '2. The internal contacts of the switch 5 will then be ina difierent relative position, thereby'tying in the wired radio tuneras. an auxiliary source of radio frequency signals for the detector tube2; 'Botation of the dial 6 in a reverse direction will move the arm 10away from the handle 11, thereby permitting the spring 14 to force thesaid handle 11 up against the pin v8 actuating the switch 5 in a reversedirection so that the space radio detector tube 2 again functions in theusual manner independent of the wired radio tuner. The position of thedial 6 in which the arm 10. engages the handle 11 of the switch-thancorrespond to a number on the dial 6, such as .number 100 in Fig. '2,which when brought adjacent the index pointer 18 will indicate that theswitch 5 is actuated for coupling the tube-2 to the wired radio tuner.

It: is-evid-ent, then, that the dial 6 can be utilized over a wide rangeoflgraduations for tuning in variant space: radio broadcast stations,and that when the dial 6 is turned into anextreme position such as shownin Fig. 2, thespace radio set will be made to function in conjunctionwith the wired radio tuner as a source of radio frequencysignal. Such anarrangement is obviously of'great advantage in that the tuning dial ofthe space radio receiver is made to serve an additional purpose inactuatingan adapter switch which is otherwise relatively inaccessiblefor operation.

lVhile I have shown certain details of mechanical construction andarrangement of parts, and. have shown these parts employed ina certaintype of electrical organization, I donot limit myself thereto except'asmay be pointed out' in the appended claims;

hat I claim as being new andoriginal and desireto secure by LettersPatent of the United States is: 7 v 1. In combination with an electrondischarge tube. adapter, a multi-poleswitch mountedthereon, and amovable dial, of actuating means for saidswitch'comprising, a switchhandle, a forked arm and set-screw I V positioned upon the periphery of{said 1novable dial and adapted to be'rotated into en gagement withsaidswitch handle, a stop pin mounted upon said tube adapter, and a spiralspring securedtosaid switch in a manner such as to'hold said switchhandle in a position normally against said stop pin.

2. In combination with an electron discharge tube adapter, a multi-poleswitch mounted thereon, and a movable dial, of actuating means for saidswitch comprising, a

I switch handle, means adjustably positioned uponthe periphery of saidmovable dial and adapted to be rotated into engagement with saidtubeadapter and a spiral spring secured to said switch in a manner suchas to hold said switch handle normally against said stop pin.

3. In combination with an electron discharge tube adapter, a multi-poleswitch mounted thereon, and a movable dial, of actuating means for saidswitch comprising, a switch handle, means adjustably positioned upon theperiphery of said movable dial and adapted to be rotated thereby intoengagement with said switch handle, a stop pin mounted upon said tubeadapter and a spring secured to said switch in amanner such asto hold.said switch handle normally against said stop pin. J

' r ROBERT D. DUN CAN, JR.

